Open Space committee considers mapping technology

A joint meeting between the Open Space Implementation Committee and the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission was held on Oct. 30 as an education session regarding Geographic Information Systems mapping and aerial software and the importance the usage of those could have for town committees.

Nearly 20 residents from both Sterling and Lancaster were in attendance, including members from the Board of Health, Planning Board, Building Needs and Utilization Committee, Conservation Commission, Agricultural Commission and Town Forest Committee, as well as OSIC.

OSIC Chairman Brian Cline said the mapping could be a key resource for planning the Open Space and Recreation Plan, and that training in the aerial software would be ideal for helping with it also.

"When you are trying to create a living document, it makes sense to do it in a manner that can easily be updated. Right now we are treating it organically, and seeing if it grows," said Cline. "There are some intricacies to it. I am confident we need to be doing the GIS mapping."

Cline has been involved with the GIS planning for several years, and hopes this is the next step in implementing it in town. He says that with the amount of mapping that needs to be done, it would make sense to have someone on staff at Town Hall as an expert in that area, as well as the aerial software.

"It's kind of a small part of the huge plan. Because it is graphical in nature, it is one of the best ways to realize our vision," said Cline.

The MRPC's role is basically to hand the project over to the town in a CD-Rom form, said Cline. The town already owns GIS software, there just needs to be some training of personnel in order to use it most efficiently.

The consensus that came out of the meeting was that it makes sense to work with MRPC to get the maps done and updated, and then have an expert in town that does the mapping, or a volunteer that wants to do that, said Cline.

"It is one of those things that you use it or you lose it," he said

The MRPC also offers knowledge of where to get the data necessary to complete the GIS, such as local libraries and state GIS databases.

"The data is coming from all different directions. Where are the Chapter 61 lands, for example? Assessors know, but databases are not always completely accurate," said Cline. "You really have to kind of do that manual massaging of all the details. All the work is in the preparation."

New aerial software has been launched recently, and Cline expects there will be some training opportunities within the next couple months for his and other committees or departments in town that could benefit from using it for planning purposes.